In many University classes, taking book notes often marks the
difference between an A and a B course
grade for a normally good to average student.

If you tend not to be organized, the following suggestions
concerning book notes are matters of personal preference yet
should prove helpful.

Use 3-hole loose-leaf notebook paper and a binder with
dividers for various subjects.

In this manner, you can loan specific sets notes without risking the loss of the
whole notebook.

You can also easily interleave lecture notes, Photostats, diagrams, and other
sources.

Add your syllabus with the aid of a 3-hole punch.

Begin study notes with the following record at the top or
margin of the page:

Text:

Subject:

Date:

Time:

If your teacher is a poor lecturer but follows the textbook,
take good notes from the text and supplement them with the
lecture notes. Hence, you must read ahead and take notes
before the class presentations.

The Use of Books: the P, Q, R, S, T method. Each hour of
study should be divided into the following time-periods.

Question:
write out what appear to be key questions covered in the
chapter and answer them orally based on what you already know
about the subject. (5 minutes) This step is especially
important.

(The rationale for this step might be initially difficult to
understand. Psychologically, we tend to remember better if we
have already have in place a conceptual structure by which to
compare new information. Consider the student who argues about
a 1 point question on a test--this student has a vested
interest in the answer and is unlikely to forget the
correction.)

Read:
read the chapter carefully and critically. Either underline
and make notes in the text or jot down an outline of the key
ideas in your notebook or both. (20 minutes).

Study:
fill in your outline and mentally review the important
concepts by comparing your answers to the text. (20 minutes):
fill in your outline and mentally review the important
concepts by comparing your answers to the text. (20 minutes).

This step is the "study" in the P, Q, R, S, T
Method. It's quite surprising to many teachers that even
at the college level, many students assume that the
"R" step is the whole sum and substance studying.

Test:
shut your book and notes. Repeat, as precisely as you can, all
that you can remember about your notes. Important points
should be given almost verbatim. Of all steps, this one is the
most important. (10 minutes)

Do not look up information you have forgotten at this time. Instead,
jot down the concept to be reviewed at the next study period (q.v.,
III, B, 2, b
above). (The fact that you don't remember the information at the
present time will be of some concern until the next study period when
you can put the annoyance to rest.)